Instead, Sewell, the lone Democrat in the Alabama delegation, invited Trump to Selma to “walk hand-in-hand’’ with civil rights legend Rep. John Lewis across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

“While I have a profound respect for the office of the president, and I accept the results of the election, I simply cannot accept the blatant disrespect shown by President-elect Trump towards American civil rights icon, my colleague, friend and mentor, the Honorable John Lewis,’’ Sewell said in a statement.

Lewis said in an interview last weekend that he did not view Trump as a “legitimate” president because Russia “helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.”

Trump slammed Lewis on Twitter saying he should spend more time fixing his district that is falling apart and that he was “all talk, talk, talk — no action or results. Sad!”

Trump continued the feud Tuesday. “John Lewis said about my inauguration, 'It will be the first one that I've missed.' WRONG (or lie)!,’’ he tweeted. “He boycotted Bush 43 also." Lewis' office acknowledged that the lawmaker had skipped Bush's inauguration in 2001.

I am saddened by the negative rhetoric on both sides. We must move forward together! Enough is enough! #JoinMeinSelma

Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans criticized Trump for attacking Lewis. By Wednesday afternoon, nearly 60 lawmakers said they wouldn't attend the inauguration.

Sewell said it was after “great deliberation” that she decided not to go to the swearing-in. She also said she was saddened by the “negative rhetoric on both sides.”

Sewell, who grew up in Selma, called for unity and said she hoped Trump would work to build bridges.

“There is a bridge in my district where we all can gain inspiration,’’ she said.

Lewis leads an annual bipartisan pilgrimage to Selma to commemorate "Bloody Sunday,'' when peaceful protesters crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge during the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, were beaten by police.

“The ongoing attacks against Congressman John Lewis are a direct assault on the sacrifices of those brave men and women in my Alabama district who fought, bled and died for the civil rights and voting rights of all Americans,’’ Sewell said.